Portable domed storm shelter

ABSTRACT

A dome-shaped shelter, which is readily manually assembled and disassembled, as needed, the shelter comprising a plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments enclosing a generally circular area, a support base with each of the segments comprising a lower end resting on the support base and a pair of spaced apart rigid upwardly arched side members converging upwardly from the lower end and a weather and UV resistant covering skin, a latch assembly securing each arched side member of a segment to the adjacent arched side member of an adjacent segment, a rigid vertical support mast releasably secured at the center of the encircled area, and manually releasable locking means securing the segments to the mast.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to storm shelters and, morespecifically to a portable storm shelter that provides is capable ofprotecting its' user from pending storms including hurricanes ortornados.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Local and worldwide reports and documentaries describe and provide videoof the harm and anguish resulting from hurricanes, tornados, severe windand/or rainstorms. This is especially true where residents do not havereadily available access to adequate shelter that they can rely on toprotect them from the storm elements. This is not uncommon at locations,such as in the southern states, where residences or homes do not havebasements or other permanent storm shelters.

There are a number of patented structures aimed at providing stormshelters where needed as explained above. Some are aimed primarily atmobile or prefabricated homes and provide permanent above ground outerstructures to the residence or build underground protective areas withinthe interior of the home. The present invention provides an above-groundstorm shelter which can be erected close to but separate from theresidence and which is readily assembled for use when needed anddisassembled and stored or transported when not in use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The storm shelter is a domed structure resting on a supporting base. Itis made up of a number of individual sections or segments each of whichis an essentially upwardly curved or arched triangular section orsegment with its bottom or lower edge resting on the supporting base.The side edges or beams of each section are releasably latched to eachadjacent segment and are releasably locked together at their upper endsto a centrally located vertical rigid support or mast to completelyenclose the interior generally circular area. Individual segments can bemanually released if needed to provide ingress and egress to theinterior. The structure is dome shaped to best deflect wind and anydebris. The rigid side beams and the covering material of each segmentare made from high-tech non-corrosive, chemical resistant, UV stablematerials with high strength and high impact characteristics andelectrically non-conductive so not susceptible to lightning strikes ordowned power lines.

Typically, with no limitation intended, and only intended to give anexample of a shelter constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention might have an interior head room of about six feet nineinches in an enclosed generally circular area having a diameter of abouttwelve feet might be made up of twelve sections and a center mast. Eachindividually installed section or segment might weigh in the order ofabout sixty pounds. (It is estimated that it would take about half hourto completely erect or disassemble the shelter with an average crew.)

From the brief description above and after the following detaileddescription it should become clear that the instant invention canprovide an almost immediate shelter from hurricanes, tornados, severewind and/or rainstorms as well as being capable for use in and for avariety of functions and purposes.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,568 describes a domed storm shelter which, unlikethe instant invention is a permanent structure adjacent or nearby aresidence. It is not intended or able to be dismantled or disassembledand stored or transported when not needed. Except for its use of a domefor protection it does not have any of the versatility features of theinstant invention as will be come more apparent from the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a portable storm resistant dome-shapedshelter;

FIG. 2 is a skeletal view showing the portable storm resistantdome-shaped shelter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a female segment having a slottedtapered end located distal to the a lower end;

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the slotted tapered end of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of abutment tapered end of a male segment;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of portable storm resistant dome-shapedshelter;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of portable storm resistant dome-shaped sheltershowing the female and male segments each having a base plate-supportingmember;

FIG. 8 shows a close-up view of the base plate supporting member of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 show a back view of an embodiment of a female segment having amanually releasable latch assembly securing a female side member to anadjacent male segment side member;

FIG. 9A is a back view showing an alternative embodiment of a femalesegment having a pair of latch assemblies located on each female segmentside member;

FIG. 10 shows a partial cross-sectional top view of the connectionbetween a female segment and a male segment with a dual latch assemblyin a locked or engaged condition; and

FIG. 11 shows a partial cross-sectional top view of the connectionbetween a female segment and a male segment with the dual latch assemblyin an unlocked or disengaged condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The object of this invention is to design a portable storm shelterstructure that is strong, virtually indestructible, affordable to theaverage homeowner, and to be available, in case of pending dangerousstorms, including but not limited to hurricanes or tornados. The presentinvention is ideal for use by mobile home owners or in associated withhomes that do not have safety shelters such as basement readilyavailable for storm emergencies.

The portable storm shelter structure is preferably constructed with hightech polymer plastics that were not readily available to the public asrecently as 10 years ago wherein the polymer plastics may be translucentor transparent to allow light to pass therethrough, or opaque oranywhere inbetween. The portable storm shelter structure alternativelymay be made from a light reflective material to prevent or reduceinterior heating caused by the sun.

Ideally, all of the hardware of the portable storm shelter structurewould be of a non-electrically conductive material to help preventlightning strikes and/or reduce the probability of injuries to the userif lightning happens to strike the structure by dissipating ortransferring the electrical energy of the lightning to the ground.

Ideally the portable storm shelter structure may be left in place andused as a play house, a temporary shelter similar to that of a forestcabin or storage building, or a green house or may be taken down andre-assemble or erected in a pending storm. The supporting foundation mayinclude pre-installed anchor sockets, which will enable the portablestorm shelter structure to be erected in as little as less than 30minutes depending on the experience of the user.

The portable storm shelter structure may also be erected on any flatground area by the use of specialized screw anchors. When the portablestorm shelter structure is fully erected the portable storm shelterstructure is wind and water proof, and includes a venting system whichmay be located on various regions of the shelter including but notlimited to a cap region, on the segment(s), and the combination.

Each segment of portable storm shelter structure preferably comprises apair of spaced-apart arched beams made of super strength non-metal(non-electrically conductive) material and preferably covered with afilm of transparent or translucent weather resistant plastic. The sideedges of alternate segments may be grooved or slotted to securely butreleasably engage mating edges of adjacent segments and are releasablylatched together. Alternatively the edges of the adjacent segment mayinstead include a weather resistant seal to securely but releasablyengage mating edges of segment to weather-proof the mating edges of thesegments. Preferably, all necessary hardware would be made ofnon-electrically conductive material to reduce or prevent lightningstrikes during a storm and all connections are weather sealed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 is a front view and FIG. 2 is askeletal view showing an embodiment of a portable storm resistantdome-shaped shelter 10 of the present invention that is readily manuallyassembled and disassembled, as needed, and is capable of protecting its'user from pending storms including hurricanes or tornados. Dome-shapedshelter 10 generally comprises a plurality of side-by-side generallytriangular shaped arched segments enclosing a generally circular area. Afeature of the present invention is that the plurality of side-by-sidegenerally triangular shaped arched segments are preferably generallyequal dimensioned and are stackable to reduce required storage space sothat the dome-shaped shelter 10 may be conveniently stored in a garageor shed space in the disassembled and unused condition while alsoimproving transportability.

Dome-shaped shelter 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 supported on a supportbase 11, which may comprise a present or preformed foundation such as aconcrete slab or the like. The concrete slab may be a separate unit oralternative comprises a portion of an existing concrete patio.

Although not intended as a limitation, an example of a suitabledimensioned support base 11 may comprise a twelve-foot diameter witharound 112 sq. ft. of floor space with the aforementioned portable stormshelter structure comprising a preferred total weight of about 900pounds with the sections or segments having a preferred weight of lessthan 60 pounds to permit for relative ease in assembly by the homeownerwithout the need of specialize tools.

Alternatively embodiment of the supporting foundation may comprisesupporting foundation having much larger diameters and much larger floorspace but these storm shelter structures may not be as portable.

Each of the segments includes a lower end resting on support base 11 anda pair of spaced apart rigid upwardly arched side members convergingupwardly from the lower end of the segment and a weather andUV-resistant covering skin. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 theplurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segmentsare shown as comprising a multitude of female segments 13 and an equalnumber of male segments 14. Segments 13 and 14 may be form from aplurality of pre-assembled non-metallic individual parts or alternativefrom a one-piece molded corrosion and chemical resistant non-metallicmaterial such as a polymer plastic or the like.

Each of the female segments 13 and male segments 14 include a lower end13 a, 14 a resting on support base 11 and a pair of spaced apart rigidupwardly arched side members 13 b, 14 b converging upwardly from lowerend 13 a, 14 a and a weather and UV covering resistant skin 15.

Dome-shaped shelter 10 includes a tubular rigid vertical support mast12, preferably made from a non-metallic material or metallic materialcontaining coating of a non-electrically conductive material thereon toreduce or prevent lightning strikes during a storm, having a first end12 a and a second end 12 b with the first end 12 a of tubular rigidvertical support mast 12 releasably secured to support base 11 at thecenter of the encircled area. It is anticipated that tubular rigidvertical support mast 12 may be secured to support base 11 in a varietyof ways including but not limited to being implanted into support base11, lockingly connected to an attachment member that is fixedlyconnected to support base 11, bolted to support base 11, and fictionallyfitted to a recess or slot within support base 11.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of female segment 13 with the femalesegments 13 each having a slotted tapered end 13 b located distal to thelower end 13 a. FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the slotted tapered end13 b, which includes a recess or slot 51 that functions to receive andsecure a portion of the second end 12 b of tubular rigid verticalsupport mast 12 therein to assist in maintaining the positioning offemale segment 13 with respect to tubular rigid vertical support mast12. Although male segment 14 comprises a similar shape and size tofemale segment 13, a feature of the present invention is that instead ofhaving slotted tapered end, male segment 14 includes an abutment taperedend 14 b having an abutment surface 16 that functions to engaging aportion of the second end 12 b of tubular rigid vertical support mast 12thereto to assist in supporting the positioning of male segment 14 withrespect to tubular rigid vertical support mast 12. FIG. 5 shows aclose-up view of abutment tapered end 14 b.

Another feature of the present invention of the present invention asshown in FIG. 3 is that each of the female segments 13 include weatherresistant seals 15 located along the edges of female segments 13 toblock out the weather elements when portable storm resistant dome-shapedshelter 10 is in the assembled condition.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of portable storm resistant dome-shapedshelter 10 showing the first end 12 a of tubular rigid vertical supportmast 12 secured to support based 11 through a fitting engagement of thefirst end 12 a of tubular rigid vertical support mast 12 with a sleevepipe 17 that is embedded within support based 11. The present inventionalso includes a manually releasable locking for securing mast 12 tosegments 13 and 14, which is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6 is shownas comprising a slideable arm 18 having a first end 18 a secured to acenter seal cap 19, a second end 18 b located entirely within aninterior of center mast 12, and a control lever 19 a connected toslideable arm 18 and extending through a portion of center mast 12 forengaging, locking and securing seal cap 19 to segments 13 and 14 andunlocking, and disengaging center seal cap 19 from segments 13 and 14.

FIG. 6 also shows portable storm resistant dome-shaped shelter 10including an air ventilation system located on and extending throughmale segment 14 segments with the air ventilation system 20 comprising adown-pipe having a quick action ball valve 20 a therein.

FIG. 6 further shows portable storm resistant dome-shaped shelter 10including a preferably fire retardant or fire resistantthermal-insulating layer 47 located on the interior surfaces of segments13 and 14 to reduce temperature fluctuation such as reducing daytimeover heating of the interior of portable storm resistant dome-shapedshelter 10 by the sun, especially in warmer climates and to reducenighttime cooling of the interior of portable storm resistantdome-shaped shelter 10 especially in colder climates.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, FIG. 7 is a bottom view of portable stormresistant dome-shaped shelter 10 showing segments 13 and 14 each havinga base plate-supporting member 21. FIG. 8 shows a close-up view of baseplate supporting member 21 and 22, which each extends from the firstends 13 a and 14 a of the segments 13 and 14 inwardly towards the centermast 12 when the segments 13 and 14 are in the assembled condition.Although all of the base plate supporting members 21 are shown includingbolt holes 22 for receiving a bolt therethrough for securement of theassociated segments to support base 11, in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and8, it is preferred the female segments 13 are secured to the supportbase 11 through the use of the bolt holes 22 while the bolt holes 22 ofthe male segments 14 remain used or preferably unused and left withinthe discretion of the user.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7 portable storm resistant dome-shaped shelter10 is shown having air ventilation system 20 located on male segment 20and a second air ventilation system comprising a plurality of screenedvent holes located proximal the second end 12 b of center mast 12.

It is noted that while the embodiment of FIG. 7 shows the portable stormresistant dome-shaped shelter 10 comprising of six (6) female segments13 and six (6) male segments 14, alternative embodiment may comprisemore than or less than six (6) female segments 13 and six (6) malesegments 14.

FIG. 9 show a back view of an embodiment of a female segment 23 having afirst arched side member 23 a, a second arched side member 23 b, and across member 23 c connecting first arched side member 23 a with a secondarched side member 23 b, and a weather and UV resistant covering skin24. FIG. 9 also shows second arched side member 23 b of female segment23 engaging a side member 25 a of an adjacent male segment 25.

Another feature of the present invention, as shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 9, is that each arched side member of the female segments includesa manually releasable latch assembly 26, 26 a securing the female sidemember to an adjacent arched side member of an adjacent male segment.FIG. 9 shows first arched side member 23 a and second arched side member23 b of female segment 23 each having a latch assembly 26, 26 a locatedproximal the ends of cross member 23 c with the latch assembly 26 offirst arched side member 23 a shown in an unlocked or disengagedcondition from a side member of a male segment and resting on a stop 27located on cross member 23 c.

The latch assembly 26 a of second arched side member 23 b is shown in alocked or engaged condition with side member 25 a of adjacent malesegment 25 and functions to secure side member 25 a of adjacent malesegment 25 to second arched side member 23 b of female segment 23. Latchassembly 26 a is supported and maintained in the locked conditioned byresting on a stop 28 located on the side member 25 a of male segment 25.

FIG. 9A is a back view showing an alternative embodiment of a femalesegment 29 having similar components to similar to the female segment 23of FIG. 9. However, instead of each arched side member 23 a, 23 b of thefemale segment 23 having a latch assembly the embodiment of FIG. 9Ashows the use of a pair of latch assemblies for securing each archedside member of a female segment to the adjacent arched side member of amale adjacent segment.

More specifically, female segment 29 is shown having a first crossmember 30 and a second cross member 31 connecting first arched sidemember 29 a with a second arched side member 29 b, and a weather and UVresistant covering skin 32. Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 9 the firstcross member 30 and the second cross member 31 are shown having a latchassembly 33, 34 located on each of their ends proximal first arched sidemember 29 a of female segment 29 and a latch assembly 33 a, 34 b locatedon each of their opposing ends proximal second arched side member 29 bof female segment 29. Pair of latch assemblies 33 and 34 are shown in anunlocked or disengaged condition from a side member of a male segmentand resting on latch stops 35 and 36 which are located on cross members30 and 31. Pair of latch assemblies 33 a and 34 a are shown in a lockedor engaged condition with a side member 37 a of a male segment 37 andfunctions to secure side member 37 a of adjacent male segment 37 tosecond arched side member 29 b of female segment 29. Latch assemblies 33a and 34 a are shown supported and maintained in the locked conditionedby resting on latch stops 38 and 39 both located on the side member 37 aof male segment 37.

FIGS. 10 and 11 each show a partial cross-sectional top view of theconnection between a female segment 40 and a male segment 41 with FIG.10 showing a dual latch assembly 42 in a locked or engaged condition andFIG. 11 showing the dual latch assembly 42 in an unlocked or disengagedcondition. The dual latch assembly 42 generally comprises an interiorlatch 43 and an exterior latch 44 connected by a threaded rod 45extending through an arched side member 40 a of female segment 40. Inthe embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 the interior latch 43 and exteriorlatch 44 are maintained on the threaded rod 45 a pair of bolts 46 andtheir assembly enables the interior latch 43 and exterior latch 44 tomove in mirror unison. That is movement of the interior latch 43 fromthe locked or engaged condition to the unlocked or disengaged conditionwill also result in movement of the exterior latch 44 from the locked orengaged condition to the unlocked or disengaged condition and viceversa. As such the dual latch assembly 42 may be operated either insidethe shelter, outside of the shelter, or both.

In the locked or engaged condition both the interior latch 43 andexterior latch 44 of the dual latch assembly 42 extend over a portion ofmale segment 41 to secure and maintain arched side member 41 a of malesegment 41 to arched side member 40 a of female segment 40. As shown inFIG. 10 dual latch assembly 42 is supported and maintained in the lockedor engaged conditioned through the resting of interior latch 43 on astop 49 located on side member 41 a of male segment 41.

In the unlocked or disengaged condition from the side member 41 a ofmale segment 41 both the interior latch 43 and exterior latch 44 of thedual latch assembly 42 extend along the side member 40 a of femalesegment 40 a to provide the side member 41 a of male segment 41 withunencumbered or unrestricted movement by either both latches 43 and 44.

It is noted that a feature of the present invention is that since themale segments of the present invention are not secured to the supportbase 11 by bolts all male segments may be individually removed and usedas doorways for ingress and egress when both side members of thespecific male segment are unlatched from their adjacent side members ofthe adjacent female segments and the center seal cap 19 is disengagedfrom the segments.

The present invention also includes a method for producing an outdoorstorm resistant dome-shaped shelter 10 which is readily manuallyassembled and disassembled as needed, comprising the steps of: (1)forming a plurality of equally dimensioned stackable triangular shapedarched segments 13, 14 each having a pair of spaced apart rigid upwardlyarched side members 13 b and 14 b converging upwardly from a lower end13 a, 14 a of the segment 13, 14 with the segments 13, 14 eachcomprising a one piece molded chemical and corrosion resistant polymerplastic with a weather and UV resistant covering skin 24; (2) placing amultiplicity of said segments 13, 14 side to side with the lower end 13a, 14 a of each of the segments 13, 14 resting on a support base 11 andthe upwardly converging side members 13 b, 14 b reaching an upper end toenclose a generally circular area; (3) releasably latching the sidemember 13 b of each segment 13 to the side member 14 b of the adjacentsegment 14; and (4) releasably locking together the upper ends of thesegments.

I claim:
 1. A storm resistant dome-shaped shelter, which is readilymanually assembled and disassembled, as needed, said shelter comprising:a plurality of side-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segmentsenclosing a generally circular area; a support base; each of saidsegments comprising a lower end resting on said support base and a pairof spaced apart rigid upwardly arched side members converging upwardlyfrom said lower end and a weather and UV resistant covering skin; amanually releasable latch assembly securing each arched side member of asegment to the adjacent arched side member of an adjacent segment; arigid vertical support mast releasably secured at the center of theencircled area; and manually releasable locking means securing said mastto said segments.
 2. The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of claim 1including an air ventilation system.
 3. The storm resistant dome-shapedshelter of claim 1 wherein said plurality of side-by-side generallytriangular shaped arched segments comprise a plurality of femalesegments each having a slotted tapered end and a plurality of malesegments each having an abutment tapered end, said slotted tapered endreceiving a portion of an end of a tubular rigid vertical support masttherein and said abutment tapered end engaging a portion of said end ofsaid tubular rigid vertical support mast directly adjacent said slottedtapered end.
 4. The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of claim 1wherein each of said triangular shaped arched segments comprises acorrosion and chemical resistant polymer plastic.
 5. The storm resistantdome-shaped shelter of claim 1 wherein said pair of spaced apart rigidupwardly arched side members and said weather and UV resistant coveringskin comprises a one-piece molding.
 6. The storm resistant dome-shapedshelter of claim 5 wherein said latch assembly comprises an interiorlatch and an exterior latch connected by a threaded rod extendingthrough each arched side member of said female segments.
 7. The stormresistant dome-shaped shelter of claim 3 wherein said plurality ofside-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments comprises sixfemale segments and six male segments.
 8. The storm resistantdome-shaped shelter of claim 1 wherein said manually releasable latchassembly comprises a pair of manually releasable latch assembly securingeach arched side member of a segment to the adjacent arched side memberof an adjacent segment.
 9. The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter ofclaim 2 wherein said air ventilation system is located on at least oneof said triangular shaped arched segments.
 10. The storm resistantdome-shaped shelter of claim 2 wherein said air ventilation system islocated on both at least one of said triangular shaped arched segmentsand on said rigid vertical support mast.
 11. The storm resistantdome-shaped shelter of claim 1 wherein said triangular shaped archedsegments are equal dimensioned and are stackable to reduce requiredstorage space.
 12. The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of claim 3wherein each of said female segments includes weather resistant sealslocated along the edges of said female segments.
 13. A storm resistantdome-shaped shelter, which is readily manually assembled anddisassembled, as needed, said shelter comprising: a plurality ofside-by-side generally triangular shaped arched segments enclosing agenerally circular area, said plurality of side-by-side generallytriangular shaped arched segments are stackable to reduce requiredstorage space; a support base; a tubular rigid vertical support masthaving a first end and a second end with said first end of said tubularrigid vertical support mast releasably secured to said support base atthe center of said encircled area; each of said segments comprising alower end resting on said support base and a pair of spaced apart rigidupwardly arched side members converging upwardly from said lower end anda weather and UV resistant covering skin; said plurality of side-by-sidegenerally triangular shaped arched segments comprising a multitude offemale segments each having a slotted tapered end located distal saidlower end and a multitude of male segments each having an abutmenttapered end located distal said lower end, said slotted tapered end ofsaid female segment receiving a portion of said second end of a tubularrigid vertical support mast therein and said abutment tapered end ofsaid male segment engaging a portion of said second end of said tubularrigid vertical support mast directly adjacent said slotted tapered endof said female segment; a manually releasable latch assembly comprisesan interior latch and an exterior latch connected by a threaded rodextending through each arched side member of said female segment, saidlatch assembly securing each arched side member of said female segmentto the adjacent arched side member of said adjacent male segment; andmanually releasable locking means securing said mast to said segments.14. The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter of claim 13 including an airventilation system located on both at least one of said triangularshaped arched segments and on said rigid vertical support mast.
 15. Thestorm resistant dome-shaped shelter of claim 13 wherein each of saidfemale segments includes weather resistant seals located along the edgesof said female segments.
 16. The storm resistant dome-shaped shelter ofclaim 15 wherein said female and male segments comprises a corrosion andchemical resistant polymer plastic.
 17. The storm resistant dome-shapedshelter of claim 16 wherein each of said pair of spaced apart rigidupwardly arched side members and said weather and UV resistant coveringskin comprises a one-piece molding.
 18. The storm resistant dome-shapedshelter of claim 17 wherein each arched side member of said femalesegments includes a pair of latch assembly located thereon.
 19. Thestorm resistant dome-shaped shelter of claim 18 wherein each of saidfemale segments includes weather resistant seals located along the edgesof said female segments.
 20. A method for producing an outdoor stormresistant dome-shaped shelter which is readily manually assembled anddisassembled as needed, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality ofequally dimensioned stackable triangular shaped arched segments eachhaving a pair of spaced apart rigid upwardly arched side membersconverging upwardly from a lower end of the segment with the segmentseach comprising a one piece molded chemical and corrosion resistantpolymer plastic with a weather and UV resistant covering skin; placing amultiplicity of said segments side to side with the lower end of each ofthe segments resting on a support base and the upwardly converging sidemembers reaching an upper end to enclose a generally circular area;releasably latching the side member of each segment to the side memberof the adjacent segment; and releasably locking together the upper endsof the segments.